Material-dispensing device for containers



Filed sept. 2, 192e y vATTORNEY j Patented Dec. 17, 1929 'tra . lorica JAMES J. KLEIN,` 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., Assrenon To THE sUPERLArIvE NOVELTY Co'., OE BROOKLYN, NEWYORK MATERIAL-DISPENSING, DEVICE Eon CONTAINERS Application led September This invention relates generally to closure devices for condiment containers and more Iparticularly to a closure means operable to -cover or uncover the perforations in a salt or pepper' shaker.

It is well known that the unprotected perforated closure members ordinarily employed in connection' with salt and pepper shakers are open to the objection that they are unsanitary in that dust can penetrate rthrough the perforations and thereby gain access to the interior of the containers. *1n addition, the objectionable effects of moisture, such as is present in the air, on ordinary table salt is well known in that the salt takes up moisture and becomes caked and solidified.

A general object of the present invention is to supply a cover or closure member to be used in connection with perforated caps for condiment holders and, in'addition7 to provide for the ready uncovering of the perforations inthe act of using the container.y

With this and other objects in view,j the invent-ion comprises a rotatable disk-like member arranged in adjacent relation to the cover cap member of the container and adapted to be rotated to bring the perforatlons in the disk member into'registration with perforations in the cover member` through which the contents of the container are distributed as desired.

A feature ofthe invention residesvin anV automatic closing effect which is provided for the closure disk, which includes a tension or spring member arranged 4to automatically rotate the closure disk to closed position. The spring member, which automatically functions to rotate the closure disk'to closed position, serves also to form part of an operating means engageable by the fingers of the user to rotate the closure -disk to uncovering position wit-h relation to the perforations in the'cover cap of the container. The operating member terminates in two oppositely extending actuating members of the push button type. The actuating members extend through the oppositely disposed lateral 'margins of the end portion of the container or ofthe closure cap 4member 1n positions convenient to v'have pressure applied 2, 192e. V'Senn No. 133,273.

the opening position on an enlarged scale of the parts shownin J Figure 1;

Figure .1f-is a View in perspective showing a condiment container equipped with the device shown in Figures 1 and 2 and showing the partsin uncovering position;`

Figure is a viewin side elevation of a condiment container equipped with a dispensing top orclosure member embodying a.

modified form of the invention;

- Figure 6.is a view in vertical section of the dispensing top shown in Figure 5 on an enlarged scale; I f

Figure 7 is a view in horizontal section taken on the lines 7-7 of Figure 6.

Referring to the 4drawings for a more de-v tailed description off-the invention, the upper or closure end of an ordinary form of condiment container is shown at -10 in Figure 1 of the drawings, the closure end being supf plied with a number of perforations 11 through which the powdered or otherwise finely divided contents of the container are adapted to be shaken in order to producethe desired seasoning -or spicing eifect.

In order to control the perforations 11 through which the lcontents of the container are adapted to be fed, a closure disk 12 is pivotally mounted at 13 on the end part lOof the container. The closure 12 is also provided with perforations as at 14C which may be brought into registration with the perthereon.

container end through which the contents of the container are to be shaken, an operating or actuating member is provided which takes the form oi a length or section of wire having a suitable spring` tension. The actuating member 15 includes a central section 16 adapted to lie in a diagonal or oblique relation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the actuating member 15. The actuating member terminates in return bends or loop portions 17 at each opposite extremity. The return bends or loop members 17 extend outwardly Vthrough slits 18 provided for the purpose in the opposite sidewalls of the end flange member 19 which is formed on the end of the container. Struck up tongue members 20 are provided in the end wall member 10 of the container in positions at opposite sides of the longitudinal side line which corresponds with the axis of the actuating member 15. The struck up tongue members 20 form guiding or directing members for the free ends 21 of the return loop members 17 of the actuating member 15. yBy means of this structural arrangement, the loop members 17 may be pressed inwardly toward each other to thereby produce rotation or angular movement `of the central section 16 which is attached to the rotatable closure vmember 12, through its 4engagement with struck up tongue members 22 formed Rotation is thereby given to closure member 12 so that the perforations 14 therein are moved into register with the perforations '11 iin the end member 10 of the container, Aas is indicated in Figure 2.

It will be seen that the rotating action of the closure disk members 12 is eected through the connection of the loop or actuating member 17 with opposite ends of the diagonally arranged central section 1G or Y the member 15. This connection is brought conformation has the eect oi rotating the closure member 12 to its closing position, as indicated in Figure -1 of the drawings.

It will be seen that the construction described is relatively simple and inexpensive and the ymanner of its application to the commercial and universally used type of container shown can be readily veffected without change in the structure 'ci the container it# self. The simplicity of structure which is achieved enables the ldevice to be use-d with inexpensive containers of the types adapted for production in large quantities.

The closure device and actuating means described are also capable of application to condiment container caps of a different and more expensive construction. In Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, there is shown a condiment container 24 of a different type and which may be formed of glass or other suitable material. v In this 'case the 'container 'cap 25 is removable and is adapted to be placed into closing relation to the container 24 through engagement oiv screw threads 26 therewith or in any other suitable manner.

In this form of the invention, the supplemental lclosure means and actuating means therefor are mounted in the closure 'cap memb'er 25 which is preferably specially `constructed for the reception of the supplemental clesure disk and its actuating means. The actuating member 27 follows in a general way the conformation 'of the actuating member 15 de# scribed in connection with Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings. A central section 28 has adiagonal or oblique disposition with relation to a closure diskmemb'er -29 rotatably seated ina recess 30 formed for the purpose in ,the inte# rior surface ofv the end prtion31 of the cl'o'- sure cap 4member 25. -A sui table pin 'or screw member 32 pivot-ally or rotatably supports the closure disk 29 within the cap vmember ,'31, as indicated in Figure v6. The pivotally :eX- tendi-ng loop members 33 formed on the actuating member 27 are i-'n this form fof the invention enclosed in cap members34 which not only produces 'an attractive 'and 'finished eifect but, by close engagement with the side walls 'ofthe orifices 35 in the 'cap member 25 through lwhich they project, the cap members 34 prevent escape of the 'contents 'of the 'container through the orifices or slots 35, The cap mein'- bers 34 are clamped into engagement with the loop members 33 Yby suitably compressing the upper and lower ksurfaces vof the cap Vas at 36 to force the material 'ot thecap into the loop structure and thereby lock the parts together. It will be seen that in the l'extended positions 'of the actuating cap members 34, thep'erform vtions 37 in the end wall 31 of the cap member 25 are closed by the position of the yclosure disk 29. On the other hand, when the actua-'b ing members 34 are pressed 'inwardly to'- ward each other, as between the thumb and finger of the user, the perforations y28 in the supplemental closure 'disk 29 are moved into registration with the perforations 37 in -the. cap member to provide the unobstructedkperforations through which the contents of the `container may be shaken or sifted as desired. It will be seen tha'tin both forms of the invention described a control means-for condiment containers has 'been devised which -is lreadily moved toopen position when graspedbetween the linger and thumb of the user inlifting the ico container from the table in the most natural position for use. On the other hand, the mere replacing of the container on the table or other surface after use is accompanied by the automatic closing of the perforations in the dispensing top or closure cap thereon.

While l have described the container as being adapted particularly for the use of condiments, such as salt and pepper, it Will be clear that it may be used equally Well for other purposes. For example, it may be used with talcum powder or the like. It Will also be clear that While I have shown two actuating members mounted in oppositely extending posi-` tions, the rotatable closure member may also be operated by means of a single manually operable actuating member if desired.

It will be clear that other adaptations of the invention may be utilized Within the scope of the appended claims.

What l claim is:

l. In a closure device for condiment containers, a container cap member having perforations therein, a perforated closure member rotatably mounted on the cap member to cover or uncover the perforations in the cap member according to the angular position of the closure member, actuating members for the closure member extending transversely across said cap member and connected to rotate said closure member to perforation uncovering` position when moved longitudinally toward each other, and spring means tending to return the parts to perforation covering position When the actuating members are released.

2. In a closure device for condiment containers, a container cap member having perforations therein, a perforated closure member rotatably mounted on the cap member to cover or uncover the perforations in the cap member according to the angular position of the closure member, an operating member for the closure member consisting of a section of spring Wire extending across and attached to the closure member, and the terminal portions of the operating member being arranged to extend in opposite directions along an axis inclined to that portion of the Wire attached to the closure member and movable longitudinally toward and from each other, whereby movement of the terminal portions toward and from each other Will operate the closure member.

8. In a closure device for condiment containers, a container cap member having perforations therein and having a flange projectving endwise from the container, a perforated closure member rotatably mounted on the cap member to cover or uncover the perforations in the cap member according to the position of the closure member, an operating member for the closure member consistingv of a section of spring Wire extending across and attached to the closure member, and the terminal portions of the operating member being arranged to extend in opposite directions along an axis inclined to that portion of the Wire attached'to the closure member, said terminal portions of the Wire section projecting through the flange of thecap member for actuation by the fingers of the user, inward pressure on said terminal membersoperating to rotate the closure member to perforation uncoveringposition, and the spring tension in said closure operating member operating to rotate the closure member to perforation covering position.

4. In a closure device for condiment containers, a container cap member consisting of a perforated end Wall member having a flange projecting endWise from the container in circumscribing relation to said end Wall member, a disc shaped closure member rotatably mounted on the outer surface of the perforated Wall member, said closure member having perforations therein adapted to be moved into and out of register With the perforations in the wall member, a closurerotating member consisting of a section of. Wire having a central portion thereof extending across and j attached to the outer surface of the rotatable closure member, the Wire at the oppositeends of the central portion being bent in opposite directions to form an S, and the terminal portions of the Wire section being looped to form oppositely extending actuating members which project through the flange member of the container.

5. In a closure device for condiment containers, a container cap member consisting of j 5 ber consisting of a section of Wire having a central portion thereof extending across and attached to the outer surface of therotatable closure member, the Wire at the opposite ends of the central portion being bent in opposite directions to form an S, the terminal portions y of the Wire having return bends therein` and extending along an axis inclined to the central portion of the Wire, said end Wall member being formed to provide guide members engagingl the terminal portions for causing the same when actuated to move along said axis, and said terminal members projecting through oppositely disposed portions of said flange for actuation by the lingers of the user.

6. In a closure device for containers, a con tainer cap member having perforations therein, a perforated closure member movably mounted on the cap member to cover or uncover the perforations in the cap member according tothe position of the closure member, `and an actuating member for the closure member Whose oppositeA ends extend laterally beyond the side edges of the cap member, the terminal portions of said actuating member being mounted to move simultaneously and valternately toward and from each other to operate the closure member.

JAMES J. KLEIN.v 

